LAUREN

 

Sadie and I had been looking at office spaces for weeks and this was the closest we had come to getting what we wanted. And, at a price we could afford. It was just outside the city centre with plenty of space for parking and good street frontage. It was a new building with clean lines and modern spaces, leaving most of the interior up to Sadie and me to plan. Since it was the best we had seen, and our need to move out of meetings at coffee shops and have our own office was increasing with each new client, we signed on the dotted line and would be in our new premises one week after we found out whether we got the job at Haven’s Rest. The wait had been torture for us both. We were unable to take on new jobs, unable to plan until we knew how much of our time, if any, would be taken up by Haven’s Rest. They were letting us know at the end of the week.

Part of me thought Tyler might call, might pop over to check in on me, or, at least let me know any updates regarding his son. But he didn’t.

* * *

Madi was all smiles when we greeted her off the plane. She was immediately taken with Sadie, gushing over everything from her hair to shoes. Sadie revelled in the praise, in return commenting on how in-tune Madi’s powers of perception were.

On the way home, we grabbed some takeaways and spent the night tucked up on the couch, watching some television show that Madi declared the best thing on TV. I wasn’t so convinced.

The next day, I dropped her at the hockey turf at seven o’clock in the morning for a warmup before the day’s competition. It was good to see my niece on the field. I hadn’t seen her play since she was a little girl. Her skills were ruthless. I watched my phone for most of the day, checking and hoping that Sadie would call with the news of whether we got the Haven’s Rest contract, but no call came.

It wasn’t until I walked into the house, an exhausted Madi trailing behind me, and saw the selection of wine on the kitchen bench that I knew the news was good.

“So we did it? They went for our campaign?”

Sadie took a swig out of an open bottle before handing it to me. Congratulations Slag!” she crowed. “We did it. They loved your idea. They said it was the best by far and we’re supposed to start in a couple of weeks.”

I hungrily slurped on the wine, wiping my mouth when a little ran down my chin. Madi tried taking the bottle off me, but I jerked it away. “No way. Your mother would kill me.”

“But I’m eighteen. I’m allowed,” she whined.

“Just,” I amended. “And there is no way your mother would let me live if you got drunk under my watch.”

“Drunk? Who said anything about getting drunk? I just wanted a little sip.” Madi pouted delightfully and I had to laugh.

“Oh, go on,” Sadie crowed. “Let her just have a little.”

“No,” I said firmly. “Do you know what sort of trouble I’d get in? Do you know what sort of trouble Madi would get in? And then every family gathering I’d have to hear about it over and over again. Nope,” I said at Madi’s pleading look. “It is not going to happen.”

“And I thought you were the fun one,” Madi huffed. “Well, if you’re not going to let me join in the fun, I’m going to my room.”

“My room, you mean,” I called after her.

“Would it have killed you just to let her have a little sip? Surely you were drinking at that age.”

“Me? Of course I was. But she’s Morgan’s kid, not mine. And yes, I do think it might have killed me.”

“Always with the sarcasm lately. Is there something going on in your life I’m not aware of? Something you’re missing maybe?”

“Just shut up.”

Sadie held her hands in surrender. “Fine. I won’t say any more. Well, not for a while at least. Goodness knows what will come out of this mouth of mine once we’ve had a few drinks.”

“I can’t drink much.”

“What do you mean?” Sadie asked, horrified. “We’re celebrating. There is either sober or wasted. No in between tonight.”

“I’m supposed to be babysitting, remember?” I said, jerking my thumb in Madi’s direction.

“You heard the girl, she’s eighteen. There is zero effort required in babysitting an eighteen-year-old, in fact, you can hardly call it babysitting. It’s more just having your niece to stay, so grab a glass, sit down and celebrate with me, bitch!”

Three wines later, I crept into the bedroom to check on Madi. She was lying on the stretcher, headphones over her ears and a sullen look on her face. I smiled and waved but she merely scowled back at me.

Once nearly at the end of our second bottle of wine, Sadie’s face was beginning to sway in my vision and the show on the television was a lot funnier than I remembered. In the back of my mind, something was warning me that the recent increase in my drinking was probably not a good idea, but I didn’t want to listen to that voice. Right there in that moment, I was happy and content. Sadie and I had won a huge contract, things were looking up. I didn’t need Derek or Gabe or Tyler in my life. I had things sorted.

My phone rang and Gabe’s image flashed across the screen.

Sadie dove on top of it. “Don’t answer!” she screamed. Then, realising how loud her voice was, she whispered, “Don’t answer it.”

Pushing her off the couch, I slid to accept. “Hey, Gabe!” I greeted cheerfully.

Music blasted in the background as Gabe shouted down the phone. “Lauren? Can you hear me?”

“Loud and clear,” I shouted back.

Sadie tore the phone away and pressed it to her ear. “I really think you need to give up, Gable Thornton. Did you know she spent the night—”

I grabbed the phone back, frowning exaggeratedly at Sadie. “What’s up?” I asked.

“Ah,” Gabe mumbled down the line. “Is Madison supposed to be up here at the moment?”

“How did you know?” I asked. “She’s here for some hockey competition or something. I watched her today. She’s good.” Then it occurred to me that there was no way Gabe should know this. “Why?”

“Because she’s currently on the dance floor right in front of me.”

Leaping from the couch I ran to the bedroom and threw the door open. “Shit,” I cursed when I found it empty. Madison had managed to sneak out while Sadie and I were drinking. Some responsible babysitter I was. Sadie was right. Madi would have been better off with strangers. At least they didn’t let her crawl out of windows and go downtown in the middle of the night.

“Has she seen you?”

“No, I’ve kept my distance. But you better get down here quick. She’s off her face.”

“Right. Okay.” Panic was beginning to slice through my drunkenness. “I’ll be there soon.”

I hung up after getting the location of the club and ran back out to Sadie. “We’ve got to go,” I said, grabbing my jacket from the back of the chair.

“Go where?” Sadie asked.

“Madison’s currently getting her groove on down at some club. Gabe’s there and he saw her.”

“Go her!” Sadie shouted.

“No, not go her. We’re supposed to be looking after her and instead, she’s out drinking with goodness knows who.”

“Correction.” Sadie’s finger hovered in the air. “You were supposed to be babysitting her.”

I rolled my eyes. “Come on.”

“Come on where? Both of us have had way too much to drive to drink.” She furrowed her brows but couldn’t quite make out what she’d said wrong, then an idea replaced the confusion. “I’m calling Tyler. He can drive us.”

“No!” I lunged towards her. “I’ll call a taxi.” But Sadie hovered out of my reach, dashing away each time I came close, and she appeared to be less affected by alcohol than I was.

“Hey Ty,” she cooed down the phone. “We got the contract!” she shouted, grinning stupidly at me. “And we’ve also had a lot to drink and need a ride.” There was silence for a moment as Tyler responded and then she shouted, “To the club,” in some strange deep voice. “Apparently Madi isn’t allowed to have a life, so Lauren is insisting we go and collect her.” She rolled her eyes in my direction. “Yes, she knows I called you. She’s right here. You want to talk to her?” She shook her head at me. “Okay, we’ll see you soon. Yup. Bye.”

“He’s coming?”

“He sure is. You don’t want to go put on something a little nicer? Something that shows a little more skin perhaps?”

I threw her another scathing look but still glanced down at the jeans and light sweater I was wearing and shook my head. “We’re just friends.”

“I bet that’s not what you said the other night.”

“Shut up.”

Sadie rolled her hands in the air in some elaborate fashion and bowed deeply. “As you wish, my lady.”

Tyler tooted when he arrived and I begrudgingly followed Sadie out to the car. I headed for the backseat, glaring at her to get into the front. She did. Tyler met my gaze in the rear vision mirror.

“Hey,” he said.

“Hey,” I replied.

“Madi, huh?”

“Madi,” I replied. “Thanks for driving us. I would’ve just called a taxi.”

“I don’t mind. I wasn’t up to much anyway, just working out.”

I wished he hadn’t told me that as unwanted images of him shirtless, muscles straining and flexing as he lifted weights, came unbidden into my mind. I crossed my legs and looked out the window as the streetlights blurred past.

Tyler didn’t say anymore and neither did I. Sadie did enough talking for the both of us. I suggested they wait in the car while I went into the club, but they ignored me, following me through the single red door. The beat of the music vibrated the floor. Lights flashed in neon colours. Gabe spotted me immediately and strode across the floor, a wide grin on his face. It faltered a little when he saw Tyler, his gaze flickering to him momentarily before regaining his composure. Jake followed him, lifting a bottle of beer and tipping the contents down his throat. One eye was swollen and black.

“What happened to you?” I asked, momentarily distracted by Jake’s appearance.

He shrugged and took another gulp of beer. “Some people have hard knuckles.”

“She’s over there.” Gabe stood close and pointed in the direction where Madi danced, surrounded by a group of men egging her on as she toyed with discarding the first layer of clothing.

“Madi!” I called out. “Madi!” I started walking across the floor, but a strong arm held me back.

“It’s probably best if someone else goes to get her,” Tyler’s deep voice sounded. “Let Gabe go. If she sees you coming she might slip out of here and it could be hours before we find her again.”

I wanted to protest, but with a sigh I agreed. Gabe sauntered over to Madi, tapping on her shoulder. She twirled around, and after seeing who it was, threw her hands around his neck, plastering her mouth to his. Gabe reeled back, shocked, looking over at me and holding his hands up, declaring his innocence.

Sadie, having walked over to the bar, came back with drinks. I took mine eagerly, there was no point in pretending to be sober now, and chugged it back.

“Whoa,” Tyler warned from behind me. “Slow down.”

“That’s not what you said the other night,” I shot back, surprised at the heat to my voice.

I didn’t look at Tyler when he responded, but I could tell from his tone that a slow smile spread across his face. “You have me there.”

Burning with confidence from the supplied drink, I took a step back, pressing closer to Tyler’s body, pretending I was unaware of my actions. My backside brushed against him, and I heard a hiss of air escape between his teeth.

Gabe, having managed to wrestle Madi away from her new-found friends, returned with her in his arms, batting away her hands from where they travelled over his biceps. “She’s had a lot,” he said, although the words were unneeded. It was plain for anyone to see what sort of a state Madi was in. Morgan would kill me if she found out. Conservatism was valued in our family.

Spinning around at such a speed I was surprised she didn’t fall, Madi inspected the people before her.

“Where do you find these men?” she asked me. Her whole body swayed as she attempted to keep upright. Leaning forward, she peered into Jake’s face. A lazy smile drifted across her mouth. “Well, hello my sun and stars,” she said.

She attempted to kiss him also, but Jake caught her by the shoulders, firmly directing her attention away. Madi sulked. Until she saw Tyler.

“And who are you? I know Gabe and I’ve now met the hunkish specimen who’s beside him, but I have no idea who you are. And I think I’d like to.”

“Tyler,” he replied. “I’m the other brother.”

“You’re Gabe’s brother?” She looked over at me with a shocked expression and I couldn’t help laughing.

“They’re all brothers,” I confirmed, nodding.

“Wait.” Confusion crossed over Madi’s face. “You are brothers. All of you?”

Tyler nodded.

“And Aunty L used to date Gabe?”

Tyler nodded again and I swallowed the uncomfortable lump that rose in my throat.

“Tyler.” Madi mused on the name. “It sounds so familiar. Tyler. Tyler. You’re the one she dumped Gabe for! I overheard Mum telling someone on the phone about it. Oh, Aunty L, you’re a nasty girl!” Madi laughed and walked over to Gabe, slinging her arm around his shoulder. “Poor, poor Gabe,” she cooed. “Do you want me to comfort you?”

“I think it’s time we got you home.” I took her arm and tugged her towards the door, but she didn’t budge.

She screwed up her face and repeated my words mockingly before snorting. “You sound just like Mum, Aunty L. And I thought you were supposed to be the fun one.”

Sadie pressed another bottle of some premixed drink into my hand. “Yeah,” she said. “We thought you were the fun one. Go on, let her stay for a bit. Just one more dance? We’re here now anyway.”

The room was already swaying, my thoughts already blurred and my nerves heightened from the pleading looks Gabe gave me, while Tyler’s were filled with venom. I couldn’t please them. I couldn’t keep any of them happy, so what was the point in trying.

“Fine. One more dance,” I relented. It felt good to just give up. Let Madi do what she wanted to do. Let Tyler glare at me. Let Gabe look at me with those pleading eyes and Jake look at me with amusement. I took a sip of the drink, letting the music sway me on my feet. “Shall we?” I said, looking over to Sadie.

“Hell, yes,” she shouted, taking Madi’s hand and leading her to the dance floor. “Here’s to being the fun Aunty!”